"Storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and large hail, along with localized flooding," Avalos said.

People spending time outdoors should be on the lookout for changing weather conditions and seek shelter indoors as storms approach. Motorists should never drive through flooded roadways.

On Thursday, the first locally severe storms will target portions of the Dakotas and southern Manitoba, Canada.

The biggest day for severe storms will be on Friday.

On Friday, locally severe storms will extend along much of the Interstate 35 corridor from southeastern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to much of Iowa, central and eastern Kansas and part of central Oklahoma.